Google, Amazon, Facebook and Apple are finding the Trump Administration a very expensive prospect, at least according to their newly released lobbying figures.
In the second quarter of 2017 – April through to June – Google spent $5.93m on sending its representatives to meet with Senators. Amazon came next with $3.21m, then …

Chump change...

Re: Chump change...

It may be chump change but it's nearly 5 grand a week per senator that Google has just spent influencing members of government. I still see lobbying as undemocratic as those with the greatest means are more likely to influence a greater number of senators.

The average citizen can't hope to get their needs and opinions across as well.

Re: Chump change...

A politician's jobs are to get elected or re-elected. Our needs are a distant third. And elections are not cheap. This is true no matter what country you are in.

The last presidential election, Hillary Clinton spent $1.2 billion (thousand million) and Donald Trump $600 million. Do you think the corporate overlords give money because they like these politicians? Quite frankly, I can't think of two more unlikable people than Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton. Corporations may in public life talk about how much they hate Donald, but in private life they will do what they can to influence him. And every other elected official as well. This is a game, we are the losers of this game.

Re: Chump change...

A politician's jobs are to get elected or re-elected. Our needs are a distant third. And elections are not cheap. This is true no matter what country you are in.

In the UK we started regulating this with the Corrupt and Illegal Practices (Prevention) Act in 1883. The Representation of the People act of 1983 limits election spending by a party to £100k per seat which basically limits our parties to spending an absolute total of £65 million nationwide, or about 5% of what your cite Hillary Clinton as having spent.

ANOS

presidunt TRIMP and HOT LADY magnolia WILL not take RUDE DOLLAZ from stoopid cumpanys with TWAT logos (xcept APPUL WHO I love with HOYNESS) so they can SPEND ALL THEY WONT ON rubbish And Ting. TRUMPP Will take the TRUTH up the IceHole. With lady marmalade TO HOLD THE CAMMERa. TRIMP doeenunt need google to SEarch for NEWS. HE MAKES IT FOR AMORICAN and the wurld. Except France with its Oniins. I AM NOT NAKIDMTODAY. XXX. )))))

Is it the same Google that censors results and hides search suggestions to catch any dirt falling on the socialists, and occasionally does even more laughable things, like redefining words in the dictionary?